viileillä

viileillä is a genus of extinct marine reptiles that lived during the Triassic period. These creatures are classified within the order Placodontia, a group of marine reptiles known for their flattened, shell-crushing teeth and often armored bodies. The name viileillä is derived from Latin, meaning "flat tooth."

Fossil evidence suggests that viileillä were relatively small to medium-sized placodonts, with species typically ranging from a few feet to around six feet in length. Their most distinctive feature was their dentition, which consisted of broad, flat, and often rounded teeth adapted for crushing and grinding hard-shelled prey such as mollusks and crustaceans. This specialized dentition indicates a diet that was likely focused on benthic organisms found on the seafloor.

The skeletal structure of viileillä indicates they were adapted for a marine lifestyle, though their exact swimming capabilities are debated among paleontologists. Some researchers suggest they were likely bottom-dwellers, perhaps spending much of their time foraging in shallow coastal waters. Their flattened bodies and potentially limited flexibility may have made them less agile swimmers compared to other marine reptiles of the era.

Fossils of viileillä have been found in marine sedimentary rocks dating back to the Middle and Late Triassic periods, primarily in Europe. Their discovery has contributed to our understanding of the diversity and evolution of marine reptiles during the Mesozoic Era, particularly within the unique lineage of placodonts. The extinction of viileillä, like other placodonts, occurred by the end of the Triassic period, coinciding with a major extinction event.